Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

Persons with disabilities are overrepresented in the criminal justice system. Compared to only 19.7% of the noninstitutionalized population, persons with disabilities make up 37% of the jail population, 31% of the state prison population, and 23% of the federal prison population (She & Stapleton, 2006). Despite these disparities, there has been little research on the impact of criminal justice involvement on persons with disabilities. Historically, persons with disabilities were first swept en-masse into the criminal justice system as a consequence of deinstitutionalization and quality-of-life policing. Today, accessibility barriers to community-based alternatives continue this trend. In keeping with the theme of this year’s conference, “Measurement Matters: Better Data for Better Decisions,” this paper will discuss how disability is measured in corrections, the limitations, and opportunities for improvement.